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Copper-Top?

J Posega

J Posega

Cat Dad and Dingwall Enthusiast
Inactive
Suspended
Jul 16, 2005
11,796
17,172
38
Portland, OR
#1
I left the title vague to see what kind of response I get, but I'm thinking of putting copper foil/sheet on the front of my new project Peavey T-40.

I've been reading a lot about different thickness and weights of copper foil and copper sheet, and everything I've read says it would be (relatively) easy to work with. Cutting even the thickest hobby/craft thickness material can be done with metal snips.

There have been pickguards and shields made of copper, as well as some crazy guy hammered out some copper-bodied guitars, but my plan is to literally tack/screw/bend on a sheet of copper.

Lastly, I'm debating whether I'll go pickguard-free by putting thinner foil over the whole top, cut out a 'control plate' where the pots will go, and then making a plate out of thicker material, or just going for thin foil and a pickguard.

Thanks for my reading my ramblings. Any input would be appreciated!
 
#3
Sounds interesting.

If you want to fully wrap around the body contours, you're going to need thin material, and/or you'll do a lot of hammering to work it into shape.

You're going to have to find a solution for what to do when you bend the top down over the sides in the area of a concave edge, such as at the waist incurves.

If you do not varnish it, it will eventually get a green/black patina. It will also make your fingers taste horrible every time you touch it. It will also turn your white t-shirt green.
 
#5
Reviving this slightly old thread because I'm considering something similar for a future build. On mine the top would be flat or only have some slight curves to it and then be bound on the endges so I'm not overly worried about the bending part. I am more interested in what type of adhesive would be a good fit to adhere the copper to a wood backing? Perhaps the resident chemist might know what would be a good choice :) Alos if anyone has some insight into any grounding issues that might arise.
 
#6
I would be inclined to just use paint or mylar. Using some type of foil, you are going to get wrinkles in it when you try to wrap it. And as copper is a conductor, what`s gonna happen when you touch your cable tip to it? Fry your amp? What if your wet or sweaty, or a short in the jack? I see lots of potential for a nasty shock there, but I`m no electrician.
 
#7
it wouldn't be foil but a heavier sheet material , so thick foil :) This has been done before [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] . I'm no electrician either but I would think as long as it was grounded and there were no ground loops it should be fine. The jack would come in from the side where it's wood and I dont foresee a problem with wrinkling because it will be either barley curved or flat. I'm thinking something along the lines of the build I have going on now but with a copper top.
 
#9
I would use contact cement to adhere the copper to the body. The glue will not stick all that well to the copper itself, but the j-roller step (if done properly) will give it great strength.

I would also recommend an epoxy urethane paint if you want to keep the top the cuprous color for longer and not taste it.
 
#11
You could use copper foil and apply it traditionally as its used in fine furniture or interior design. The only instrument I've seen having a foil finish is this one by Jens Ritter utilizing a platinum foil finish. It can be done smoother and more uniform, think about a gold foil picture frame...
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#12
Beej said:
You could use copper foil and apply it traditionally as its used in fine furniture or interior design. The only instrument I've seen having a foil finish is this one by Jens Ritter utilizing a platinum foil finish. It can be done smoother and more uniform, think about a gold foil picture frame...
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Click to expand...

The only thing I found, searching for a gilded guitar, was Lou Druckers work.
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He has diy section on his site but nothing on gilding yet. :hmm:
 

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